1993 Mazda 626 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
106,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 82 complaints (37.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 28.0% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 11.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 31 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 31; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Structure:Body:Door: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 60 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 15; 1996: 9; 2000: 3; 2001: 18; 2002: 11; 2003: 11; 2004: 3; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000079 · 2002-12-12 (December 12, 2002)
QUICK VERSION: TRANSMISSION DIED IN CAR TWICE. FIRST TIME IT DIED AROUND 112500 MILES. SECOND TIME IT DIED 11500 MILES LATER. STILL RUNNING ON SECOND REPAIR JOB AS OF 12/12/2002. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ROUGH (WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS "STANDARD" BEHAVIOR) FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I OWNED THE CAR. THE TRANSMISSION DIED A YEAR AGO AND THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE IT. I WENT TO A PRIVATE TRANSMISSION SHOP INSTEAD AND CUT THAT COST IN HALF. REPAIR JOB DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG, HOWEVER AND I WOUND…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000647 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
I OWN A 1993 MAZDA 626 ES (6 CYLINDER) AUTOMOBILE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN 1999. IN MARCH 2002, IT BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN, WAS REBUILT AGAIN, FAILED LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER, REBUILT AGAIN, FAILED AGAIN AND HAS BEEN SITTING IN A SHOP FOR 4 MONTHS AWAITING A NEW TRANMSSION BY MAZDA. MAZDA HAS BEEN NON-COOPERATIVE TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT AND TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRMAN. THERE ARE TWO POSSIBLE TRANSMISSIONS HOWEVER MAZDA REFUSES TO MANUFACTURE THE ONE RECOMMENDED BY TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008464 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
ON A VERY SNOWY DAY AFTER A 20 MINUTE RIDE WE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER TOWED CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER TOLD ME THE REPAIRS WOULD COST ABOUT $2000.00 DOLLARS. THEY SAID BOTH BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. SINCE THIS WAS AN EXTREME EXPENSE. WE PURCHASED A NEW CAR. I FEEL NO BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD EVER EXPERIENCE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, AND FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD AT LEAST REPLACE ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE DOESNT GET KILLED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012340 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023265 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
AFTER OWNING MY 1993 MAZDA 626 LX FOR OVER TWO YEARS I FIND OUT THAT THE CAR IS DESTINED TO BAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING THE CAR TO GET WORSE. I STARTED HAVING THE NOTORIOUS FLASHING HOLD LIGHT THUS CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. BEING SOMEONE OF AVERAGE INCOME IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP REPAIRING MAZDA'S INEVITABLE PROBLEMS. I NOW FEEL INSECURE OF MY LIFE, THE LIFE OF MY WIFE AND OUR NEWBORN BABY. AFTER REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION THE PROBLEM AROUSED A FEW MON…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968309 · 1995-07-06 (July 6, 1995)
THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY HAD TO REPLACED THREE TIME . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 754878 · 2001-11-25 (November 25, 2001)
CAR GOES DEAD AT LIGHTS AND AROUND CURVES AND DURING PULLOFFS FROM ANY POSITION FROM A START TO STO, STEERING ASSEMLY VERY LOOSE HAVE TO SWERVE SOMETIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958599 · 1995-01-12 (January 12, 1995)
ABS, WHEN MAKING TURN BRAKES LOCKUP, FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY CAUSING LOSS CONTROL GOING INTO ENBANKMENT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 972290 · 1995-09-21 (September 21, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN STOPPING AT STOP LIGHT AND SIGN, NOW IT STALLS AT ANY SPEED, DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860181 · 2000-04-12 (April 12, 2000)
THE FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860181 at NHTSA ↗